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T.O. Unleashes Verbal Volleys

On a conference call with Boston-area media Wednesday afternoon, the Bills’ new receiver took a playful jab at the Patriots and “Spygate,” joked that he wasn’t a fan of Buffalo’s new no-huddle offense and wondered if New England went out and acquired veteran cornerback Shawn Spring specifically to “check me.”

In his first year with the Bills, Owens has struggled to see the field because of a nagging toe injury -- he had just two catches for 27 yards in the preseason -- but on Wednesday, that didn’t temper his enthusiasm for the prospect of facing the Patriots on national television. Saying he was “looking forward” to the “Monday Night Football” matchup, he was asked if he had anything special in store for the game.

“No,” he said, before waiting a beat and adding a laugh. “But I might bring my spy camera out, though. Tell [Bill] Belichick I said hello. I’ll see him Monday.”

Buffalo has used the no-huddle offense throughout the preseason, but it’s been less than successful. The Bills’ No. 1 offense has managed no touchdowns and one field goal in 16 preseason possessions. Asked if he liked the new style, Owens laughed.

“No, not really,” he said with a chuckle. “But I got to deal with it.

“No, it’s all right. It just gets you a little winded,” he added. “For myself, I haven’t really practiced much the last few preseason games, so I’m still trying to get myself into shape and that’s coming around. We’re doing some things in the offense that will help me get in shape a little bit faster than I need to.”

Another motivating factor for Owens might be the appearance of cornerback Shawn Springs. The two have gone head-to-head on numerous divisional battles since 1997, when Owens was in San Francisco and Springs was with Seattle. In a memorable 2002 49ers-Seahawks game, Owens caught a pass over Springs for a touchdown, sparking the now-infamous “Sharpie” celebration where the receiver scored and then pulled a pen out of his sock and autographed the football.

The two have continued to meet twice a year, as they both moved to the NFC East -- Owens to Philadelphia and then Dallas, and Springs with Washington -- before landing in the AFC East together again this offseason. It’s questionable if Springs will be ready to go for Monday’s opener -- he’s struggled to stay on the field in the preseason -- but if he is, Owens sounds like he’s ready for the battle.

“Shawn is one of those physical corners, one of the best in the league,” Owens said. “If I have to think of good to great corners across the league, he’s definitely one of those guys, you know?

“Obviously, he’s following me across the league. I think that Belichick knew with me coming to the Bills he had to find somebody to check me, so he went out and acquired him.”

For his part, Springs was extremely deferential when talking about Owens, saying that T.O. the pop culture icon often blinds people to the fact that he’s a smart, hardworking football player.

“I don’t think a lot of people understand,” Springs said. “You hear all about his personality and things and all his antics and stuff, [but] I don’t think people understand how hard he works, one, and two, I don’t think you understand how smart a football player he is.

“A lot of people don’t know that about him, but he knows, he knows things. He’s pretty smart. He knows how a defense will play him, and he makes different adjustments that allow him to make plays.”

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